A-League: Jets coach Arthur Papas confident keeper Jack Duncan will bounce back to best

Duncan had a night to forget in the Jets' heart-breaking 2-1 loss to Western United in the FFA Cup qualifier in Geelong on Saturday night.

He was involved in a mix-up with Jason Hoffman, which allowed the ball to be threaded to Lachy Wales to slot home the opener for the home side just before half time.

Then, after Daniel Penha had equalised with a stunning freekick, Duncan made a complete hash of a clearance.

He rushed off his line to take care of a long ball over the top by Alessandro Diamanti. Duncan got there in plenty of time but inexplicably had an air swing, presenting substitute Aleksandar Prijovic with an open net for the match-winner.

In amongst the errors, Duncan made quality saves to deny Dylan Wenzel-Halls and Prijovic, but the 28-year-old will not look back at the match fondly.

"It is not the first time or the last time [a keeper will make a mistake]," Papas said. "He knows that it was a big error at the end.

"He also made some very good saves as well. We are going to support him.

After a two-year stint with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Qadsiah, Duncan returned last season for a third stint at the Jets.

Hindered by an arm injury, he made 16 appearances and signed a three-year contract extension in April.

"He has to respond and respond well," Papas said. "He will. He is a mature keeper now."

With 68 A-League appearances, Duncan is by far the most experienced of the Jets keeper.

Noah James, 20, is in his fourth season in the A-League system but has played only one game - a 3-0 win for the Jets over Wellington.in August 2020.

Michael Weier, a 198cm former striker, joined the Jets this season from Victorian NPL club Hume City and is yet to make his A-League debut. The 24-year-old had minor knee surgery in the pre-season and is getting back to full fitness.

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Apart from Ben Kantarovski, who is still not training with the main group after surgery to repair a nerve issue in the off-season, Papas will have a full squad to select from.

However, Lucas Mauragis only completes quarantine on Thursday after returning from Tajikistan, with the Olyroos and is unlikely to be in contention.

"It is not easy coming out of quarantine," Papas said. "We have seen that already with foreigners."

Meanwhile, Perth Glory owner Tony Sage has struck a deal that will see the A-League Men's club host two games in early January - but only if the Western Australia State Government comes to the party.

As it stands, Glory will play their season opener against Adelaide United in Perth this Saturday night, before playing their next nine matches on the road, one of which is an FFA Cup fixture.

But Sage has negotiated a fixture swap with the owners of Sydney FC and Western Sydney that will allow Glory to ease the travel burden.

Under the deal, Glory will host the Sky Blues on January 2 and Wanderers on January 8 - games that are currently scheduled for NSW.

In return, Glory will play Sydney FC and Western Sydney in NSW later in the season instead of in Perth.

But with WA not due to open its border until late January or early February, Glory's hopes of hosting the games in early January now rests with the WA State Government.

Sage is hopeful a deal can be struck to allow the games to go ahead in Perth under strict quarantine protocols.

"The protocol would be they (the opposing team) get tested, they leave their state on a plane, come straight to a hotel, and they're not allowed to go out, just like the AFL teams," Sage said. "That's the protocol we've put forward, and it's being reviewed by the WA Health."

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